Do baclofen pumps influence the development of scoliosis in children?

Intrathecal baclofen is an effective treatment for spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. There has been increasing concern, however, that intrathecal baclofen may accelerate the development of scoliosis in this population. To this end, the authors reviewed their population of pediatric patients with baclofen pumps to assess the incidence of scoliosis.

This was a retrospective chart and radiology review of all pediatric patients with baclofen pumps. Cobb angles were measured preoperatively and on follow-up images.

Of 38 patients identified, 32 had adequate data available for inclusion in the study (16 with cerebral palsy, 7 with dystonic cerebral palsy, 4 with head injury, and 5 with other diagnoses). The mean age at pump insertion was 10.6 years and the mean follow-up period was 31 months (range 1-118 months). The mean annual Cobb angle progression was 19 degrees (range 0-68 degrees, median 12 degrees).

In the authors' group of patients there was notable development and progression of scoliosis at a greater than previously reported rate for the same patient population, and also greater than previously reported patients with intrathecal baclofen pumps. The largest possible confounding factor in this study was the insertion of the pump before skeletal maturity and therefore coinciding with the time when scoliosis may be developing naturally. A prospective study is recommended to gather further data on the development of scoliosis in this particular population with intrathecal baclofen pumps.